Flat bed platen printing presses



1958 H. R. MQLAUGHLIN 2,848,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. e, 1955 1o Sheets-sheaf 1 lnver llor Mg Rogers Mau 1 4 W Attorney Allg- 1958 H. R. MOLAUGHILIN 2,848,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 6, 1955 10 sheets sheet 2 iilk3? Inventor HugA gage/'6 Mum/aw B /4. make A Home y Aug. 26, 1958 H. R. MCLAUGHLIN FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 li IL... 1.

a ma 3 K Inventor Hug/1 [gage/1s Wei/M6191 A ttorne y Aug. 26, 1958 H. R. McLAUGHLIN FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 a s (f Aug. 26, 1958 H. R. MCLAUGHLIN 2,348,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES 1o Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 B 747/;" Attorney Aug. 26,1958 MCLAUGHLIN 2,848,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES 1o Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 Inventor Hug/1 Page/2s Mcl/fl/Gf/Zl/V A ttomey H. R. MCLAUGHLIN 2,848,944 FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES Aug. 26, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed D60, 6, 1955 a 3 EM a Inventor Hugh m fl/cUWGf/U/V A torn e y Aug. 26, 1958 H. RMOLAUGHLIN 2,848,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 6, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Inventor A ttorney Aug. 26, 1958 H. R. MCLAUGHLIN 2,843,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 Q m g- EPI ln uer ltor Hug/1 Rogers fl ICZ/IUGHZl/V A tlorm y Y Aug. 26, 1958 H. R. MCLAUGHLIN 2,843,944

FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 wx L M m nc MW; d 5 y W B M w H Attorney United States Patent FLAT BED PLATEN PRINTING PRESSES Hugh Rogers McLaughlin, Dublin, Ireland Application December 6, 1955, Serial No. 551,405

10 Claims. (Cl. 101-302) This invention relates to flatbed platen printing presses for letterpress printing, the object of the invention being to provide a portable construction of the aforesaid type of printing press which will be simple, compact, durable and very convenient for manual operation for ofiice use.

Heretofore in platen printing presses it is usual to mount the type on the flat bed of the machine which is brought into printing contact with the paper platen, the fiat bed and the paper platen being angularly arranged with reference to each other and with reference to the horizontal plane, the result being that feeding of the paper to the platen is inconvenient and traverse of the inking roller or rollers over the type face involves a complicated spring actuated mechanism.

The present invention provides a construction of flat bed platen printing press in which the paper is fed to a horizontally disposed paper platen and positive roller inking of the type is effected without complicated spring urging of the roller, the movement of the flat bed to the paper platen is a small and approximately vertical one, and the inking arrangements and type are not exposed as in the hitherto known machines.

The printing press according to the invention is preferably equipped for automatic feeding and withdrawal of the paper, although it will be understood that the feeding and withdrawal of the paper may be done manually in which case, as hereinafter explained, the construction of the printing press may be simplified.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of alternative embodiments of the invention as applied to a manually operated oflice type printing press, and as illustrated by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the printing press equipped with automatic feeding and withdrawal of the paper, and showing the platen at its innermost position, the actuating handles being in an intermediate position.

Fig. 2 is an opened-out plan view, the links connecting the flat bed to the arms of the actuating handle being uncoupled to allow the flat bed to be swung rearwardly to opened-out position, the platen being shown in its outermost position in dotted outline and the paper tray being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the parts in the same position as Fig. 2, but with the flat bed in its normal closed over position and a piece of paper being fed to the platen.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line VV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a partial opened-out plan view showing the platen (in dotted outline for clearness) in its innermost printing position, the paper tray being omitted.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view showing the parts in printing contact position, and also showing the small arcuate but approximately vertical movement of the flat bed to printing position.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the parts just prior to printing contact position, the platen being "ice at. in its inner most position and the actuating handle in intermediate position.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1XIX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial plan view of the platen paper gripping mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line XII-XII of Fig. 3 showing the distributing plate revolving mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view on the line XIIIX[II of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view from underneath showing the main shaft and the spring coupling of the crank lever thereto.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified printing press without automatic paper feeding and withdrawal, the platen being shown near to its outermost position.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the press shown in Fig. 15, the flat bed being swung rearwardly to opened-out position and the platen being shown in its innermost position in dotted outline for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view taken on the line XVIIIXVIII of Fig. 17.

Referring to the drawings the printing press comprises essentially a I-section frame 1 having a pair of horizontal rails 2, secured by screws 3 to the upper portions of the flanges of the frame, on which the paper-supporting platen 4 slidingly reciprocates from the outward paper feeding position shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 to the inward printing contact position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the platen 4 is located immediately beneath and in juxtaposition to a flat bed 5 to which the cover 6 is secured, said flat bed 5 having mounted thereon in inverted position the chase 7 containing the printing type 8 and also a circular ink distributing plate 9 urged outwardly from the flat bed 5 by a coil spring 10 encircling the plate axle 11 which passes freely through a hole in a bracket plate 64 secured to the flat bed 5, the free end of axle 11 being fitted with a collar 12. The plate 9 is adapted for automatic intermittent rotation as will be hereinafter explained.

The flat bed 5 with its cover 6 and mountings is rotatably mounted at its inner end on a spindle 13 fixed at each end in holes in the flanges of the I-frame, the flat bed 5 being provided with a pair of bracket lugs 15 encircling the spindle 13. At the opposite outer end of bed 5 another spindle 16 passes transversely through a corresponding bore 16a in the flat bed 5 and projects at each end through the cover 6 to receive the bored upper ends of a pair of outwardly cranked links 17 one of which is curved as shown connecting the spindle 16 to pivot pins 18 provided near the bottom ends of the arms 19 of an actuating handle bridged by a handle grip 20. The links 17 are secured on the spindle 16 by nuts 21, one of which may consist of a fixed head on the spindle 16. The bottom ends of the arms 19 are mounted on the projecting ends of a main shaft 22 and secured thereto by grub screws 23, the main shaft being rotatably supported in the lower portions of the I-frame flanges.

It will be apparent that by uncoupling one of the nuts 21 and withdrawing the spindle 16, thereby uncoupling the flat bed 5 from the handle arms 19, the flat bed 5 with its cover 6 and mountings may be pivoted inwardly about spindle 13 to occupy the openedout position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in which position the attachment of the chase 7 and type 8 is facilitated and access is gained for cleaning or lubrication. Moreover, the chase 7 and type 8 being horizontal when the flat bed 5 is swung back, alteration or setting of the type 8 is the chase 7 can be readily effected while they are actually mounted in the machine. The cover is provided with a button handle 6a to facilitate its opening-out. I

Manual rocking of the handle arms 19 about shaft 22 reciprocates the platen 4 on the rails v2 through the linkage comprising the crank lever 24 (Figs. 2 and 6) spring coupled, as hereinafter explained, to shaft 22, the free end of crank lever 24 passing through a slot 25 in the horizontal web of the -I'-frame above which it is pivotally connected to link 26 twisted at its centre to present a flat horizontal surface at its other end for pivotal connection to one end of a lever 27 pivoted at its centre to a stud 28 fixed in the horizontal web of the I-frame 1. The other end of lever 27 is connected by a pivotal link 29 to another lever 30 one end of which is pivotally connected to a stud 31 fixed in the horizontal Web of the I-frame 1 and its other end is pivotally connected to a longitudinal link 32 the inner end of which is pivotally connected to a stud 33 (Fig. projecting downwards from the underneath surface of the platen 4 at its inner end. The pivotal connection of link 29 to lever 30 is located near the stud 31 and the entire linkage is predetermined to effect reciprocation of the platen between the outermost paper feeding position (Figs. 2 to 5) determined by the engagement of the platen stud 33 with the mechanical resilient faced stop 34 screwed to the web of the I-frame, and the innermost printing contact position (Figs. 6 and 7). This reciprocation is elfected by rocking of the handle arms 19 with corresponding rotation of shaft 22 between the approximately vertical position shown in Fig. 4 and the intermediate downward position shown in Figs. 2 and 8. During this rocking movement of the handle arms 19 the links 17 mostly pivot about their connection with spindle 16 and do not cause any appreciable movement of the fiat bed 5 which remains almost stationary above the plane of reciprocation of the platen 4. As will be hereinafter explained, further rocking of the arms 19 to the position shown in Fig. 7 rotates shaft 22 against the resilient action of spring 35 (Fig. 14), moves the flat bed 5 down into printing contact with the paper platen 4 as shown in Fig. 7, after which the arms 19 and shaft 22 are rocked back to the intermediate position as shown in Figs. 1 and 8 under the influence of spring 35.

An inking roller 36 is mounted in front of the platen 4, the roller 36 being journalled in the upturned ends 37 of a bracket 38 secured to a pair of hinge links 39 (Fig. 5) the other hinge leaves 40 of which are secured to the underneath surface of the platen 4. The under surface of thebracket 38 rides on a pair of ramps 41 secured to the upturned ends 42 of a pair of brackets 43 secured to the horizontal web of the I-frame. The ramps 41 are downwardly inclined in the inward direction so that the ramps 41 are parallel to the flat bed 5 when the latter is in its normal stationary position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

The ramps 41 are thus parallel to the face of the type 8 in the chase 7 and also to the surface of the ink distributing plate 9 resiliently mounted on the fiat bed 5. The ink distributing plate 9 (Figs. 12 and 13) is provided with a ratchet wheel 56 the teeth of which at 58 to a right-angled downward extension 59 of a right-angled lever 60 pivoted at 60a to the bed 5.-

The lever 60 engages underneath the plate axle collar 12 and is maintained in this position by a guide bracket 61 secured to bed 5. The extension 59 has an outward projection 62 situated immediately above and engaging a stop 63 fixed on the flange of the I-frame 1. The end 5a of the bed 5, which does not reach to the front end of cover 6, has a block 64 screwed to its edge 'and the axle 11 of plate 9 passes freely 'througha bore in block 64, coil spring 10 urging plate 9 downwardly and maintaining collar 12 in engagementwith lever 60. It

will be apparent that each time the bed 5 moves downwardly into printing contact with the platen 4 by movement of the handle 20 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the fully downward position shown in Fig. 7, lever 60 will be pivoted upwardly due to the engagement of the projection 62 with stop 63. This upward movement of lever 60 retracts pawl 57 sufficiently to cause its engagement with the next tooth of ratchet wheel 56, and when the bed 5 rises again after printing contact, pawl 57 rotates ratchet wheel 56 and the distributing plate 9 an angular distance equivalent to the pitch of the teeth in the ratchet wheel 56. In this manner, the distributing plate 9 is automatically rotated intermittently during each printing operation. Moreover, the upward movement of lever 60 performs the additional function that it lifts plate 9 sufficiently to ensure that it does not contact the platen 4 when the latter is situated thereunder for the printing operation.

It will also be apparent that as the platen 4 is reciprocated inwardly, the inking roller 36, to which the printing ink may be initially applied by hand or alternatively by any known ink duct arrangement, first rolls in contact with the resiliently mounted ink distributing plate 9 whereby the ink is distributed uniformly over the roller 36 which then traverses the face of the type '8 in the chase 7 the track of the roller 36 being parallel to hte surfaces of .the distributing plate 9 and type 8 mounted in the fiat bed 5, and when the roller 36 leaves the inner end of the ramps 41 it is situated below the horizontal level of the platen 4 where it remains during the downward printing contact movement of the flat bed 5 while the handle arms 19 are rocked from the intermediate position of Fig. 1 to the fully downward position of Fig. 7.

On the return reciprocation of the platen 4 to outward position, the roller 36 again traverses the face of the type 8 and the distributing plate 9, and it is to be noted that on leaving the outermost edge of the distributing plate 9 the roller 36 will, due to its inertia, continue to rotate through a small angular movement, whereby on the next inward stroke a different line surface of the roller is presented for entering contact with the plate 9 than in the previous stroke. The same occurs at the inner end of the entering stroke whereby thorough distribution of the ink on the roller 36 is ensured.

Instead of mounting the distributing plate 9 resiliently as shown, itwill be obvious that the roller 36 and/ or the ramps 41 may be resiliently mounted to press into contact with a fixed distributing plate 9.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 14, the crank lever 24 terminates in a boss 45 loosely mounted on the main shaft 22, and separated from the flange of the I-frarne 1 by a washer '53, the boss having a slot 46 through which projects a pin 47 fixed radially in the shaft 22. The coil spring 35 is anchored at one end to a pin 48 fixed in the face of the boss 45 so as to project in the axial direction, and at the other end is anchored to a pin 49 on an anchor block 50 fixed to the shaft 22 by grub screw 51.

'It will be apparent that the crank lever 24 is spring coupled to the main shaft 22 so that as the arms 19 are actuated downwardly to reciprocate the platen 4 inwardly, the rotation of the main shaft 22 which is in the direction of the arrow 52 is transmitted to the crank lever'24 by the spring 35 which is strong enough for this purpose. When the platen 4 has reached its inward printing contact position, being the limiting position of the linkage shown in Fig. 6, the further downward actuation of the arms 19 and rotation of shaft 22 takes place against the tightening of coil spring 35 the anchor 48 of which remainsstationary and anchor 49 of which rotates with the shaft 22 in the direction of arrow 52 the pin 47 moving through the slot 46. This further rotation of shaft 22 brought about by movement of the handle arms 19 from theposition shown in Figs. 1 and.8 and in dotted outline 'in Fig.7 to the fully downward position shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, draws downwardly the links 17 thereby effecting the small and arcuate but approximately vertical movement of the flat bed 5 into printing contact with the paper on platen.

Following the printing operation the handles 19 return to the intermediate position as shaft 22 is rotated back under the influence of spring 35, and the flat bed 5 is raised by the links 17 to its normal intermediate position. Further manual upward rocking of the arms 19 to the vertical position is accompanied by return rotation of shaft 22 which is transmitted to the crank lever 24 by the engagement of pin 47 with the contacting end of the slot 46 in the boss 45, and the platen 4 is reciprocated to its outward position.

It should be noted that the spring coupling of the platen reciprocating linkage to the handle actuated main shaft 22 could readily be effected in other ways as, for instance, by transferring the spring coupling to another joint in the mechanical linkage, for example, the joint of link 26 with lever 27, or the joint of the inner end of the longitudinal link 32 with the underneath surface of the platen 4.

The feeding of the paper 65 to the platen 4 and its withdrawal therefrom after the printing operation is automatically effected in synchronism with the reciprocation of the platen 4 by the up and down movement of the handle arms 19. The individual sheets of paper 65 are stacked in a tray 66 fixed to the I-frame 1 so that the surface on which the stack of paper 65 rests is inclined inwardly towards the plane of the platen 4 which passes underneath the tray 66 during its outward reciprocation. The side edges of the stack of paper 65 are frictionally held by strips 67 of rubber or other similar material each mounted near one end of a spring steel carrier 68, the strips 67 projecting into the tray through slots cut in the sides of the tray, and the carriers being secured to the exterior of the sides of the tray. At their other ends, the carriers are fitted with adjustment screws 70 which bear on the sides of the tray 66, whereby the frictional pressure exerted by the strips 67 on the sides of the stacked paper 65 may be regulated so that it is suflicient to maintain the stack on the inclined surface of the tray while the top sheet of paper 65 is positively pushed forward on to the platen 4 (as hereinafter explained) as the latter reciprocates outwardly.

The top sheet of paper 65 is engaged by a pusher 71 in the form of a short arcuate sectioned length of sponge rubber held in a bracket 72 fixed to a pusher rod 73 the upper end of which passes through a bore in a block 74 carried on a transverse rod 75 the ends of which are pivotally connected to a pair of links 76 the lower ends of which are fixed to the projecting ends of a transverse spindle 78 rotatably supported in bores in the I-frame 1. Spindle 78 is connected by a crank arm 79 and connecting rod 80 with a crank arm 81 fixed on the main shaft 22. A grub screw 74a secures the pusher rod 73 in adjusted position to the block 74 which itself is secured in adjusted position on the transverse rod 75 by grub screw 75a.

It will be apparent that when the handle arms 19 are moved downwardly from their uppermost position (Figs. 2 to 5) the crank 81, connecting rod 80 and crank 79 cause spindle 78 to rock in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 4 whereby links 76 retract the pusher rod 73 and pusher 71 which merely slides over the surface of the paper 65 owing to its shape and the fact that it exerts no pressure on the paper other than that arising from its small mass. When, however, handle arms are moved upwardly from the lowest position (Figs. 6 and 7) the reverse action occurs and as pusher rod 73 and pusher 71 now exert a thrust on the paper stack, the top sheet engaged by pusher 71 is pushed forwardly towards the platen 4 which is being reciprocated outwardly towards the paper. The frictional strips 67 hold the rest of the stack of paper 65 on the tray 66.

Thus, each time the handle arms 19 are raised from their lowermost position (Figs. 6 and 7) to their uppermost position (Figs. 2 to 5 the uppermost sheet of paper 65 is fed towards the platen 4 which is reciprocating towards its outermost position, the paper 65 passing under and being guided to the plane of the platen by a guide plate 77 secured at its side edges to the outer surfaces of the flanges of the I-frame.

At its innermost end the platen 4 is equipped with a paper gripping bar 82 (Figs. 3, 10 and 11) having at each end thereof, a forwardly extending lug 83, the bar 82 being attached to the platen by a screw 83a passing loosely through a bore in each lug 83. The bar 82 is normally maintained in close contact with the surface of the platen 4 by a pair of wire springs 84 pressing on the bar 82 at each end thereof and anchored to screws 85 fixed in the platen 4,

The lug 83 at one end is further extended to form an upwardly curved tongue 86, and as the platen 4 reciprocates outwardly, tongue 36 passes underneath and engages a trigger 87 pivoted at 83 to the upper edge of the flange of the I-frame 1. The tongue 86 is therefore pressed downwardly whereby the outer edge of bar 82 is raised (Fig. 11) as the platen 4 approaches the sheet of paper 65 being fed thereto, and the inner edge of the sheet of paper 65 passes underneath the bar 82. As soon as tongue 86 passes out from underneath the trigger 87, the bar 82 closes down and grips the paper 65 due to the action of springs 84.

On the return inward reciprocation of the platen 4, the tongue 86 engages a fiat 88 on trigger 87 and rocks trigger 87 out of its path against the action of a wire spring 89 secured to the trigger 87 and anchored to a stop block 90 mounted on the upper edge of I-frame 1, the block 90 also functioning as a stop to limit the return rocking motion of trigger 87 and re-position it correctly for the next succeeding paper gripping operation.

Downward movement of the handle arms 19 from their uppermost position (Figs. 2 to 5) to their intermediate position (Figs. 1 and 8), reciprocates the platen 4 now fed with a sheet of paper 65 to its innermost position beneath the flat bed 5 ready for the printing operation which is effected during movement of the handle arms 19 from the intermediate position to the fully downward position (Figs. 6 and 7) against the action of coupling spring 35.

After printing the paper 65 is extracted from the platen.

, (Fig. 7) to the projecting end of a bracket 96 of angle section bolted to the flange of the I-beam 1 on which the outwardly curved handle link 17 is situated. The movable jaw 92 of the spring clip is secured and centrally pivoted at 93 to the lower jaw 91 and is urged to gripping contact therewith by coil springs 97. Depression of the movable jaw 92 about its pivot 93 for the required opening of the jaws at correct timing is controlled by a lever 98 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a bracket 99 secured to pivot arm 94, one end of the lever 98 bearing on rear end of the movable jaw 92 through the intermediary of an adjusting screw stud, 160 while its other end carries another adjustable screw stud 101 which rides on the inclined surface of a cam plate 192 a downward extension 103 of which is bolted to the rear flange of the bracket 96.

The pivot arm 94 is actuated by a link 104 (Fig. 7) connected to a sleeve 105 encircling a downwardly extending pin 106 secured to the piv o t arm 94 at a short radial distance from the pivot of the pivot arm 94. The other end of link 104 is formed with a slot 107 engaging a stud 108 fixed to an upstanding lug 109 on the inner end of handle arm 19. It will be apparent that as the handle arms 19 are raised from the intermediate position (Figs. 1 and 8) to the uppermost position (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5), link 104 will pivot arm 94 outwardly away from the printing press, and on moving the handle arms 19 downwardly the link 104 is pivoted inwardly to paper gripping position by the action of coil spring 110 anchored at one end to a lug 111 fixed to the bracket 96 and anchored at the other end to the pin 106.

The flange of the I-frame 1 is recessed at 112 and the platen 4 is inwardly recessed at 113 to receive the spring clip the 'jaws 91 and 92 of which are open (as hereinafter explained) and straddle the paper 65 at the platen recess 113. This occurs before the handle arms 19 have reached their lowermost position and during the further movement of the arms 19 to their lowermost position at which printing is effected, the stud 108 rides freely in slot 107. Similarly during the initial portion of the return upward movement of the handle arms 19, the stud 108 rides freely in slot 107 until it engages the closed end thereof when pivoting of arm 94 outwardly commences.

A curved latch 114 pivoted to the free end of arm 94 so as to overlie the spring clip has a notch 115 formed therein adapted to engage the inner end of the upper jaw 92 of the spring clip to maintain the jaws open, when jaw 92 has been depressed by lever 98 the stud 101 of which rides to the highest portion of cam 102 as pivot arm 94 pivots outwardly. This latch 114 maintains the jaws open until it is tripped by a trigger arm 116 pivoted near its inner end on an angle lug 117 bolted to the upper edge of the flange of the I-frame, the innermost end of trigger arm 116 being located immediately below a stop 118 fixed to the fiat bed 5. The extent of rocking of the free end of trigger arm 116 is adjustable by means of adjusting screw 119 passing freely through trigger arm 116 and engaging its bottom surface.

Commencing with the handle arms 19 in their uppermost position (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5), the pivot arm 94 has been swung fully outwardly against the action of spring 110, the notch 115 of latch 114 is engaging the rear end of the upper jaw 92 maintaining the jaws open and the platen 4 is fully reciprocated outwardly and has been fed with a sheet of paper 65 from the tray 66. As the handle arms 19 are moved downwardly to the intermediate position spring 110 swings pivot arm 94 inwardly, the paper loaded platen 4 is reciprocated to its innermost position underneath the flat bed 5, the inking roller 36 traversing the distributing plate 9 and the type 8, but the fiat bed 5 remains practically stationary in its raised position above the platen 4, and stop 118 is out of engagement with trigger arm 116. Further downward movement of handle arms 19 against the action of spring 35 allows spring 110 to close in the pivot arm 94 fully, the opened jaws 91, 92, of the spring clip straddle the paper overlying the platen recess 113, and the flat bed 5 begins to descend to printing contact position whereby stop 118 presses on the end of trigger arm 116 thereunder the other end of which rises and lifts latch 114 disengaging its notch 115 with jaw 92, whereby jaw 92 closes and the paper is gripped firmly between the jaws 91, 92.

As the platen 4 reaches its innermost position beneath the fiat bed 5, a stop 120 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) secured to the flat bed 5 and projecting downwardly therefrom engages the curved tongue 86 of the paper gripping bar 82 on platen 4 and depressing said tongue 86 leaves the paper 65 free for sideways withdrawal from the platen 4.

Following the printing contact operation, handle arms 19 are moved upwardly from their lowermost position assisted by spring 35 and the flat bed 5 rises allowing the paper still gripped between jaws 91, 92 to be withdrawn sideways from the platen 4 as pivot arm 94 is moved outwardly by link 104. During this outward 8 movement of pivot arm 94 stud 101 rides up the inclined surface of cam plate 102 and the other end of lever arm 98 presses on the rear end of upper jaw 92 releasing the grip on the withdrawn and printed paper which falls into a collecting receptacle. When jaw 92 has been depressed on its rear edge sufficiently by lever arm 98, the notch again engages over the rear edge of jaw 92 maintaining the jaws in open position for the next paper withdrawal operation. As soon as the flat bed 5 rises sufficiently after the printing operation and after withdrawal of the paper from the platen 4, stop disengages from the curved tongue 86 allowing the paper gripping bar 82 to return to its normal spring closed position on the platen 4.

A stop 121 is fixed to the end of the pivot arm 94 to prevent latch 114 being lifted by trigger arm 116 beyond the point at which the latch 114 will return again under its own weight to notch engagement with the upper jaw 92 of the spring clip.

It will be noted that the cranked link 17 is curved outwardly on the side of the printing press on which the paper withdrawal mechanism is situated, this being necessary to allow clearance for the sideways withdrawal of the paper from the platen 4. On the other side of the press, however, the link 17 need not be curved.

A simplified modification of the printing press is shown in Figs. 15 to 18, in which similar references to those employed in Figs. 1 to 14 have been used to denote similar parts, this simplified construction dispensing with automatic feeding and withdrawal of the paper, and the intermittently rotated circular distributing plate 9 is replaced by a nonrotating rectangular distributing plate.

As will be readily apparent from Figs. 17 and 18 the rectangular distributing plate 9 is urged outwardly from the fiat bed 5 by coil springs 10 encircling plate studs 11 which pass freely through corresponding holes in the flat bed 5, the inner ends of the studs 11 having enlarged heads 12. The plate 9 has side flanges 44 which serve to guide the plate 9 in its inward and outward spring controlled movement within the cover 6 and also serve to engage the platen 4 during the downward printing contact movement of the flat bed 5 and thereby force the plate 9 inwards out of contact with the paper during printing contact.

Each sheet of paper to be printed is placed manually upon the platen 4 when the latter is reciprocated to its fully outward position, and removed after printing when the platen returns to its fully outward position, another sheet being placed on the platen and so on.

Further description of the operation of the simplified printing press of Figs. 15 to 18 is unnecessary as its operation is similar to that of the printing press described with reference to Figs. 1 to 14 with the exception of the distributing plate 9 and the omission of all the components associated with the printing press of Figs. 1 to 14 for the intermittent rotation of the distributing plate 9 and for the automatic feeding and withdrawal of the paper. Neither of the handle links 17 need be curved outwardly since sideways withdrawal of the paper from the platen 4 when beneath the flat bed 5 is not required.

In the flat bed platen printing press according to either embodiment of the invention, the horizontally disposed platen is resiliently coupled with the main driving shaft through the reciprocating mechanism and the entire cycle of the printing operation is effected by only a downward and upward rocking of the main shaft actuating handle, the first portion of the downward rocking and latter portion of the upward rocking effecting respectively the reciprocation of the platen from paper feeding position into and out of printing position beneath an inverted fiat "bed in which the type is mounted, the latter portion of the downward rocking and first portion of the upward rocking effecting respectively downward movement of the flat bed into printing contact with the platen against the influence of the spring coupling of the platen with the reciprocating mechanism, and return of the flat bed to its original position assisted by the said spring coupling.

Even if automatic feeding and withdrawal of the paper 1s not adopted, manual feeding and withdrawal is convenlently carried out since the platen is disposed horizontally. The inking mechanism is considerably simplified as compared with the inking roller arrangements in known printing presses and the inverted disposition of the flat bed on which the type is mounted permits its operat on by a single pair of links through a small and approximatly vertical movement to printing contact pos1t1on, as well as admitting of a very compact construction of press.

If desired the unoccupied space of rectangular crosssectlon beneath the I-frame web behind the main shaft 22 (and both behind and in front of shaft 22 in the simplified prmtmg press) may be utilised by providing a sliding drawer therein for holding paper or the like material. Alternatively the rear end is closed by a double angle or Z-section length of sheet metal 54.

Rubber base pieces 55 are preferably provided at each corner of the base of the I-frame.

If desired an adjustable impression stop 122 of steel or other suitable material may be provided on one or both sides of the I-frame 1 to limit the extent of the downward rocking movement of the handle arms 19 so that lighter or heavier printing impression on the paper may be attained. An adjusting screw 123 with locknut 124'has screw threaded engagement with a'bore in the handle arm 19, the projecting end of the screw 123 engaging the stop 122 when the arm 19 is moved fully down.

It will be apparent that feeding and withdrawal of the paper could be effected automatically by means other than that described, such as by pneumatic means.

What I claim is:

1. A flat bed platen printing press for letterpress printing, comprising the combination of a machine frame; a main shaft journaled in the machine frame; a pair of horizontal rails mounted on the machine frame; a papersupporting platen supported on said rails for horizontal reciprocation on said machine frame from an outward paper feeding position to an inward printing contact position; a flat bed carrying type and supported on the machine frame in juxtaposed position above the horizontal path of reciprocation of the platen and adapted for movement into and out of printing contact with the platen when reciprocated inwardly thereunder; a pivotal connection between the flat bed at its inner end and the machine frame; inking roller means provided at the inward end of the platen for reciprocation therewith and adapted to traverse the face of the type carried on the flat bed during each inward and outward reciprocation; and actuating means adapted to effect both the combined reciprocation of the platen and inking roller means and the sequential printing contact movements of the flat bed, said actuating means including an actuating handle rigidly secured at its innermost end to the main shaft, reciprocating means comprising a crank lever, a mechanical linkage connected between the platen and one end of the crank lever and a spring coupling connecting the other crank lever end to the main shaft, said spring coupling consisting of a coil Spring encircling the main shaft, an anchorage on the main shaft to which one end of the spring is connected, a boss on the crank lever by Which the crank lever is loosely mounted on the main shaft, an anchorage on said boss to which the other end of the spring is secured and adapted to transmit through the spring to the boss the rotation of the main shaft in one direction, and a pin projecting radially from the main shaft through a slot in the crank lever boss, which is adapted to transmit to the boss the rotation of the main shaft in the other direction, said reciprocating means being adapted to effect the reciprocation of the platen during a rocking movement of the actuating handle from an intermediate to an uppermost position thereof and back again to the intermediate position, and a pivotal linkage between the outer end of the flat bed and the actuating handle, which is adapted to effect the descent to the platen of the flat bedthrough a small arcuate but substantially vertical movement and the return ascent thereof while the actuating handle is rocked respectively downwardly from the intermediate to a fully downward position against the action of the spring coupling and upwardly again to the intermediate position assisted by the action of the spring coupling.

2. A fiat bed platen printing press according to claim 1, including an ink distributing plate mounted resiliently on the flat bed with its surface parallel to the plane of the type carried on the flat bed, a hinged connection between the'inking roller means and the platen adapted to transmit to said inking roller means the reciprocating movement of the platen, a pair of inking roller means supporting ramps secured to the machine frame so as to incline downwardly in the inward direction parallel to the surfaces of the distributing plate and the type when the flat bed is in raised position and adapted to maintain traversing contact between the inking roller means and the surfaces of both the distributing plate and the type during each reciprocation of the inking roller means.

3, A flat bed platen printing press according to claim 2, including distributing plate retracting means comprising a downward extending member on the distributing plate, an abutment on the machine frame engaged by said downward extending member each time the flat bed is moved into printing contact position and adapted to raise the distributing plate against the action of its resilient mount-' ing to maintain the distributing plate out of contact with the platen during the printing operation.

4. A fiat bed platen printing press according to claim 3, including a circular distributing plate, a central axle on the rear of said plate rotatably mounted in an extension block of the flat bed, a coil spring encircling said axle and anchored between the rear surface of the distributing plate and the extension block, and means actuated by the operating handle adapted to rotate the distributing plate intermittently.

5. A flat bed platen printing press as claimed in claim 4, in which'the means for rotating the distributing plate intermittently comprise a ratchet wheel secured centrally on the rear surface of the distributing plate, and a pawl pivotally connected to the downward extending member of the distributing plate and adapted to engage successive teeth on the ratchet wheel each time the flat bed is descended by actuation of the operating handle and to rotate said ratchet wheel through a small angular rotation each time the fiat bed is raised again by the actuating handle.

6. A portable flat bed platen printing press for letterpress printing comprising the combination of a machine frame; a main shaft rotatably supported on the machine frame; an actuating handle rigidly secured at its innermost end to the main shaft for rocking action thereof; a paper supporting platen; linkage means connecting the platen 'to the main shaft for horizontal reciprocation thereby on the machine frame between an outward paperfeeding position and an inward printing contact position as the actuating handle is moved successively between its uppermost and an intermediate position; a crank lever whose outer end is connected to the platen linkage means; a spring coupling connecting the inner end of the crank lever to the main shaft for effecting a pause of the platen at its inward printing contact position while the actuating handle is moved successively between the intermediate and its lowermost position, the spring coupling consisting of a coil spring encircling the main shaft, an anchorage on the main shaft to which one end of the spring is connected, a boss on the crank lever by which the crank lever is loosely mounted on the main shaft, an anchorage on said boss to which the other end of the spring is secured and adapted to transmit through the spring to the boss the rotation of the main shaft in one 11 direction, and a pin projecting radially from the main shaft through a slot in the crank leverboss and adapted to transmit to the boss the rotation of the main shaft in the other direction; a flat bed carrying type and pivotally connected at its inner end to the machine frame in juxtaposed position above the horizontal path 'of'reciprocation of the platen; pivotal link means conne'cting'the forward end of the flat bed to the actuating handle for pivotal movement of the flat bed into and out of printing contact with the platen while the actuating handle is moved successively between its intermediate and lowermost positions; and inking roller means provided at the inward end of the platen for traversing the face of the type "carried on the fiat bed during each inward and outward reciprocation of the platen.

7. A portable fiat bed platen printing press for letterpress printing comprising the combination of a machine frame; a main shaft rotatably supported on the machine frame; an actuating handle rigidly secured at its innermost end to the main shaft for rocking action thereof; a paper supporting platen; linkage means connecting the platen to the main shaft for horizontal reciprocation thereby on the machine frame between an outward paper feeding position and an inward printing contact position as the actuating handle is moved successively between its uppermost and an intermediate position; coupling means connected between the platen linkage means and the main shaft for effecting a pause of the platen at its inward printing contact position while the actuating handle is moved successively between the intermediate and its lowermost position; a fiat bed carrying type and pivotally connected at its inner end to the machine frame in juxtaposed position above the horizontal path of reciprocation of the platen; pivotal link means connecting the forward end of the flat bed to the actuating handle for pivotal movement of the flat bed into and out of printing contact with the platen while the actuating handle is moved successively between its intermediate and lowermost positions; inking roller means provided at the inward end of the platen for traversing the face of the type carried on the flat bed during each inward and outward reciprocation of the platen; and an ink distributing plate mounted resiliently on the fiat bed with its surface parallel to the plane of the type carried on the flat bed, a hinged connection between the inking roller means and the platen adapted to transmit to said inking roller means the reciprocating movement of the platen, a pair of inking roller means supporting ramps secured to the machine frame so as to incline downwardly in the inward direction parallel to the surfaces of the distributing plate and the type when the flat bed is in raised position and adapted to -maintain traversing contact between the inking roller means and the surfaces of both the distributing plate and the type during each reciprocation of the inking roller means.

8. The flat bed platen printing press of claim 7, including distributing plate retracting means comprising a downward extending member on the distributing plate, an abutment on the machine frame engaged by said down- 12 wand extending member each time the flat bed is moved into printing contact position and adapted to raise the distributing plate against the action of its resilient mounting to maintain the distributing plate out of contact with the platen-during the printing operation.

9. A portable flat bed platen printing press for letterpress printing comprising the combination of a machine frame; a main shaft rotatably supported on the machine frame; an actuating handle rigidly secured at its innermost end to the main shaft for rocking action thereof; a paper supporting platen; linkage means connecting the platen to the main shaft for horizontal reciprocation therebyon the machine frame between an outward paper feeding position and an inward printing contact position as the actuating handle is moved successively between its uppermost and an intermediate position; coupling means connected between the platen linkage means and the main shaft for effecting a pause of the platen at its inward printing contact position while the actuating handle is moved successively between the intermediate and its lowermost position; a flat bed carrying type and pivotally connected at its inner end to the machine frame in juxtaposed position above the horizontal path of reciprocation of the platen; pivotal link means connecting the forward end of the flat bed to the actuating handle for pivotal movement of the flat bed into and out of printing contact with the platen while the actuating handle is moved successively between its intermediate and lowermost positions; inking roller means provided at the inward end of the platen for traversing the face of the type carried on the flat bed during each inward and outward reciprocation of the platen; a circular distributing plate; a central axle on the rear of said plate rotatably mounted in an extension block of the flat bed; a coil spring encircling 'said axle and anchored between the rear surface of the distributing plate and the extension block; and means actuated by the actuating handle adapted to rotate the distributing plate intermittently.

10. The flat bed platen printing press of claim 9, in which the means for rotating the distributing plate intermittently comprises a ratchet wheel secured centrally on the rear surface of the distributing plate, and a pawl pivotally connected to the downward extending member of the distributing plate and adapted to engage successive teeth on the ratchet wheel each time the flat bed is descended by actuation of the actuating handle and to rotate said ratchet wheel through a small angular rotation each time the flat bed is raised again by the actuating handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent Q UNITED STATES PATENTS 501,319 Bowman July 11, 1893 1,751,467 Altvater Mar. 25, 1930 1,870,541 Whitlock Aug. 9, 1932 1,964,498 Brasseur June 26, 1934 1,990,595 Freeman Feb. 12, 1935 2,443,137 Hogan June 8, 1948 

